Vacuum-tube socket



May 5, 1925. 1,536,805

L. E. MELHUISH VACUUM TUBE socxET Filed June 2'7, 1922 I Patented May 5, A1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE E. MELHUISH, OF GLENiRIDG-E, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WIE!S'I. llRl\`l ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

( VACUUM-TUBE socxn'r.

To all whom't may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE E. MEL- I-IUIsH, a citizen of the United States, resid# ving at Glen Ridge, in the county of Essex,

so that the tube is arranged substantially parallel to the panel;

Another object of the invention is to supportI the contact springs of a vacuum tube socket from one end of the socket and' to iso'lateonevol.theVv contact-springs from the others.

Another object of the invention is v a vacuum tube socket wherein the Contact springs are arranged to project through the panel upon which ythe socket' is supported so that all the wiring lnay be concealed behind the panel.

Referring now to the drawin Fig. 1 is a vertical section o .the socket showing a vacuum tube base therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partially broken away.

The socket comprises an apertured base plate 10, adapted to be attached to a panel. Integral with this plate and projecting from the aperture is an elbow 11 terminating in a cylindrical shell 12 which is adapted tov receive the base of a vacuum tube. A .bayJ onet slot 13 is provided in the shell to receive the locking pin of a vacuum tube. To the rear wall o'f the base plate 10 is attached, by means of the screws 14, a block 15 of insulating material which slightly overlies the aperture. A second block 16 of insulat-V ing material is also attached to the rear wall of the base plate 10 by means of the screws 17 and is arranged diametricallyopposite theblock 15. In the lower face of the-block' 15 are cut three grooves extending transversely of the block. .Arranged in these grooves are the contact springsl 18, 19 Vand 2O which are held in position by the, bolts and'nuts 21 and 22. These contact springs project into the elbow 11 and are arranged A groove extends transversely of the upper face of the block 16 and a contact spring 23 is held therein. by the bolt and nut 24 and 25. This contact spring extends into the elbow portion beneath the other contact springs and is bent upwardly and rearwardly to bring its end into position to be engaged by the anode terminal of a tube. The contact springs 18 and 19 are arranged -tocon-. 4tact with the filament terminals .of a tube and the contact spring 2() is arranged to engage the'grid terminal. i

By virtue vof the above described arrangement the-filament and grid contact springs are comparatively widely separated, at all points, from the anode contact spring and are therefore well insulated therefrom. Each of the contact springs is provided with a notch at its outer end to receive the wires by means of which the socket may be c'onnected in any desired circuit. i

A disc 27 of insulating material is supported at the `lower Yend of the shell 12 Aon bosses 26 extending fromthe VinteriorY thereof. This insulating disc is provided with a plu? ranged to permit the terminals of a vacuum tube base to pass therethrough and engage .the Contact springs. This plate prevents the possibility of the insertion within the socket of anything which lmight bridge two vof the contact springs and establish a short circuit, and also protects persons using it from accidentally touching the high'voltage anode contact.4 Furthermore it serves as a means for limiting the use of this socket to tubes having an arrangement of terminals which will pass through the apertures. VVha-t is claimed is:

-1. In combination, abase plate having an aperture, `an elbowextending from said plate andterminating in a shell, a plurality of contact members attached to the rear wall`of said base plate, an additional contact member attached to said rear wall and isolated from the other Contact members, eachof said contact members projecting into said elbow portion, said isolated Contact member lying in a plane other than said lirst contact members' and being relatively plate, strips of insulating material attached to the rear face ot said base plate, a plurality of contact members carried by said insulating strips and projecting into said elbow, one o't' said contacts lying in a ditt'erent plane from said other contacts and havingl its tree end in the same plane ot said other contacts.

3. A vacuum tube socket comprising an elbow having one end terminating in a base plate and the other end terminating in a cylindrical shell, a pair ot insulating strips attached to the rear wall otl said base plate and arranged substantially diametrically opposite each other, a plurality ot' contact members carried by one of said strips and projecting into said elbow, and a single contact member carried by the other insulating strip. said last named contact member projecting into said elbow and having its inner end otliset to bring it into the plane of the other contact members. A

4. Al vacuum tube socket comprising an elbow tern'iinating` in a base plate, a pair ot strips of insulating material attached to the rear wall of said base plate at opposite points thereof, a plurality of contact members :carried on one ot' said strips andprojecting into the said elbow, a single contact member carried by the other of said strips, the inner end of said last named strip being provided with a return bend to bring its end into the same plane with the first named contacts.

5. A vacuum tube socket comprising an elbow terminating in a base plate, a plurality of Contact members attached to Said base plateand arranged in the same plane, and another contact member attached to said base plate in a different plane from said first contact members, said last named contact member having its inner end offset to bring it into the same plane as the ends of the other terminals.

6. A vacuum tube socket comprising a base plate, a shell supported by said plate with its axis parallel to the plane otl said plate, a pair of insulating strips positioned at opposite points on the rear wall ot' said plate, a plurality ot contact springs carried by one ot' said strips and projecting within said shell and another contact spring carried by the other ot said strips and pro-y jecting within said shell, thc end ot' said last-named contact springl being oti'set 'to bring it into the plane ot' the other contact spring.

7. A vacuum tube socket comprising` a base plate, a shell supported b v said platc with its axis parallel to the plane ot said plate, a pair ot insulating strips mounted on the rear wa-ll ot' said plate dianietricall)v opposite each other` a pluralityY ot' contact springs mounted on one ot' said insulating strips and projectingY within said shell,` an additional contact. spring carried by the other insulating strip and projecting within said shell` the end ot' said last named contact spring` beingl offset to bring it in the plane of the other contact springs, and an insulating -plate carried by said shell in proximity to the ends of said contact. springs, said disc having a plurality of apertures through which maybe inserted the terminals of a vacuum tube to engage said Contact springs.

8. A vacuum tube socket comprising a base, a tubular member arising therefrom, a. plurality ot contact members insulatingly supported at one end ot' the base and projecting across one end of said tubular member, one of said Contact members being mounted in a different plane from the others but having its free end in the same plane.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of June` A. D., 1922.

LAVRENCE E. MELHUISH. 

